Therapeutic apparatus



April 24, 1945- N. D. MININBERG v 2,374,492

' THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS Filed Sept. 19, 1942 I 5 IN V EN TOR.

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ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 24, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS Nathan D. Mininberg, New York, N. Y.

Application September 19, 1942, Serial No. 458,941

2 Claims.

This invention relates to therapeutic appa ratus. r

' 'One object of the invention is the provision of apparatus for vibrating or applying mechanical vibrations to the patients body or to parts thereof in treating the patient for various body discomforts or diseases. For example, in one form of apparatus embodying the present invention, the apparatus is adapted to be used for applying mechanical vibrations to the patients abdomen in the treatment of flatulence, or other diseases, and in another apparatus embodying the present invention said apparatus is adapted to be used for applying vibrations to, a body extremity, such as for example, a leg or arm for dispelling or decreasing the congestion of blood therein or for otherwise promoting the normal circulation of blood in the veins or for improving blood circulation. It will be understood, however, that apparatus embodying the present invention is not limited to these uses but can be used for various other treatments calling for the application of mechanical vibrations to the body or to a part thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus which produces oscillations and vibrations as a result of a continuously applied centrifugal force. More specifically, in accordance with this object of the invention, a simple rotary device is utilized for oscillating and vibrating a frame which is constructed and arranged to transmit mechanical oscillations and vibrations to the body or to a part thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus which is simple in construction and in operation for producing vibrations and for facilitating the application of the vibrations to the body or to a part thereof.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying illustrative drawmg.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying the present invention, parts being broken away for the purpose of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a side view, parts being broken away for the purpose of illustration;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another form of apparatus embodying the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and

first to the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3,

the therapeutic apparatus I0 embodying the present invention comprises a-base l2 on which the vibratory frame I4 is mounted, the bottom of said frame having a pivotal bearing between its opposite ends on said base l2. As shown, said base and frame form a box-like enclosure in which the operating parts, hereinafter described, are positioned and enclosed. More particularly, as here shown, the bottom iii of base I2 is provided with a transversely extending rigid member or bar I8 fixed thereto, the bottom of frame l4 resting on said bar which provides a pivot or fulcrum for said frame. Base I2 is provided with opposite side parts or walls 2|] which upstand from bottom l6 and with opposed side parts or walls 22 upstanding from the bottom of the base. The upstanding side parts 20 are provided with transversely aligned openings 24. A rod 26 of smaller diameter or cross section than openings 24 passes through said openings and through aligned openings 28 in the opposite sides 30 of vibratory frame l4 whereby said frame is held against separation from base l2 and at the same time permitted to pivot on bar l8 and vibrate when caused to do so by the means hereinafter described. The frame may oscillate to the extent permitted by the space between the bottom of the frame and the upper surface of bottom wall iii of the base and, if desired, stops (not shown) may be provided to limit the pivotal movement of said frame.

frame, the pivotal mounting of the frame, and the connection of the frame to the base are susceptible .of variations.

As here shown, frame l4 comprises, in addition to the opposite sides 30, an upper supporting wall 32 to which said sides are fixed and from which they depend. Said upper wall is provided with a concavity 34 adapted to receive the patients abdomen when the latter lies face downwardly on frame l4 transversely thereof. It will be understood that when the patient thus lies on frame 14, the pressure exerted by the weight of the patient on frame [4 is carried by bar l8. Said frame I4 also includes opposite side walls 34 which are spaced somewhat from end walls 22 of the base whereby to permit the frame to oscillate and vibrate on said base. As shown, the side walls of the base and frame are in overlapping and relative movable relation.

The means for vibrating frame I4 is, as here shown, mounted within said frame and. comprises an electric motor M fixed within said frame in any suitable way at one side of the pivotal bearing of said frame. An electric cord 35 is provided for Itwill be understood that this construction of the base and connecting said motor to a source of electric current. As here shown, said motor is secured in the frame by cleats 36 and 38 secured to the top wall 32 of the frame and to a bracket 40 fixed at the bottom of said frame. The rotary shaft 42 of the motor is spaced from and extends parallel to the fulcrum bar [8. Said shaft carries a weight 44 eccentrically thereof, said weight 44 being as here shown fixed to an arm 46 fastened to shaft 42 and extending radially therefrom. While the speed of shaft 42 may be varied, as will be readily under stood, its speed is preferably relatively high being of the order of about 2500 revolutions per minute. It will be understood that when the motor shaft is rotated, frame I4 vibrates and oscillates on base l2 due to the rotation by the motor shaft of the centrifugal force eccentrically disposed weight which is connected thereto, and it will be understood that when the patient=lies or bears against wall 32 of frame l4 the vibrations of the latter are communicated to the abutting portions of the patients body.

The apparatus IDA illustrated in Fig. 4 is constructed and operates substantially in the same way as the apparatus Ill described above, and as'apparatus IUA is intended for applyingvibrations to an extremity of the body, for example, a leg or arm, the upper wall 32A of the vibratory frame can be fiat as shown, the concave portion provided in the upper wall 32 of frame l4 being unnecessary In using the vibratory apparatus IOA, the apparatus is positioned so that the upper wall 32A of vibratory frame |4A supports the leg or arm of the patient v hereby to apply vibrations thereto when frame 14A is vibrated. The base is indicated at HA and other parts similar to those of apparatus I0 are designated by corresponding reference numerals. As indicated above, the apparatus embodying the present invention may be used for vibrating other parts of the body or the entire body, for example, vibratory frame l4 may be sufficiently large to allow the patient to lie entirely thereon in any desired position or the patient may sit or recline on the vibratory frame. In other words, the vibratory frame I 4 may be provided as the top of a table or as the seat of a chair. If desired, a layer of padding may be applied to the top or part of the frame, in apparatus In or MA, or in any other apparatus of this invention, which engages the body or a part thereof.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the underlying idea of the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein shown or described and that various changes may be made therein. Accordingly, I do not wish to be limited to the invention as herein specifically illustrated or described except to the extent which may be required by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Therapeutic apparatus comprising a base, a rigid member fixed to said base, a frame pivotally mounted on said rigid member and pivotally movable thereon, said frame being disposed above said base, a motor mounted in said frame and supported thereby at one side of the pivot thereof, said motor having a rotary shaft and a weight carried by the shaft of said motor eccentrically of said shaft and rotatable thereby for vibrating said frame, said vibrating frame enclosing said motor and said weight and being vibratory as a unit therewith.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a base having a bar fixed thereto and opposed upstanding parts provided with transversely aligned openings positioned above said bar, a frame having an upper surface and opposed parts depending from said upper surface and provided with transversely aligned openings, means passing through said openings in the frame and base for holding them together in pivotal relation, said frame being pivotally supported between its ends on said bar, and means carried by said frame for vibrating the latter on said base.

NATHAN D. MININBERG. 

